Article carrier



June 22, 1965 P. J. WOOD 3,190,48

ARTICLE CARRIER Filed July 29, 1963 6 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR PREN TICE J. WOOD ATTORNEY June 22, 1965 Filed July 29, 1963 P. J. WOOD ARTICLE CARRIER 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIGAA 57 FIGA-B INVENIOR PRENTICE J. wooo ATTORNEY June 22, 1965 P. J. WOOD ARTICLE CARRIER 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 29, 1963 FIG.6

INVENTOR PRENTICE J. WOOD ATTORNEY FIG.8

June 22, 1965 P. J. WOOD ARTICLE CARRIER 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 29, 1963 FIG-IO PRENTICE J. WOOD ATTORNEY June 22, 1965 P. J. wooD ARTICLE CARRIER s Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 29, 1963 FIG.I2

INVENTOR PRENTICE J. WOOD June 22, 1965 P. J. WOOD 3,190,487

ARTICLE CARRIER Filed July 29, 1963 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR PRENTICE J WOOD ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,130,487 ARTlhCLE (IARRKER Prentice .l, Wood, don-ashore, (a., assigner to The Mead Corporation, a corporatien of Ghio Fiied duly 29, 1963, fier. No. 2%,25$ 12 tliaims. (611. 2249-415) This invention relates to article carriers and more particularly to carriers having muiti-ply handle panels secured together in face contacting relation to form a composite medial handle on either side of which a plurality of article receiving cells are formed. The invention is more particularly concerned with carriers of this type in which separate partitioning elements are inserted and secured by glue or other suitable means and relates to an insert construction which is especially adapted to be secured within the carrier by simple and sturdy structural means and wherein riser panels are disposed medially at each end of the carrier and foldably joined to the carrier end and handle panels and wherein such riser panels are arranged to afford an element of reinforcement whereby the handle structure of carriers of this type is materially strengthened at the regions thereof which receive maximum stress during service conditions.

In Patent 2,537,452 granted January 9, 1951, and owned by the assignee of this invention, a sturdy and reliable carrier is disclosed which is constructed of a single paperboard blank and which is adapted to make full utilization of paperboard from which such a carrier preferably is constructed. This type of carrier can be manufactured in quantity at reasonable cost and is particularly well suited for use with certain articles to be packaged such, for example, as bottled soft drinks. In a carrier of the type disclosed in the aforementioned patent, article receiving cells are defined by relatively narrow partition strips which are disposed in spaced relation on either side of the carrier handle and which are interconnected between the handle and the side walls.

A principal object of this invention is to provide an improved article carrier wherein improved partitioning structure is utilized in such a way as to afford added article protection and which is interrelated with the structural elements of the carrier so as to afford added strength and reinforcement.

Another object of this invention is the provision of an improved carrier in which essential elements such as riser panels are adapted to afford added reinforcement to the handle structure at points of maximum stress and without utilizing additional material for such purpose.

A further object of the invention is to provide riser panels which are particularly configured so as to afiord a single thickness partition at each end of the carrier and which are arranged in nested relation in the blank form, the particular shape of the risers being chosen to afiord proper coaction with the feeder wheels of the carton forming machine.

The invention in one form as applied to an article carrier of the above-mentioned type comprises a cushioning panel disposed on each side of the handle panel of the carrier and having anchoring tabs formed along the edges thereof and wherein such tabs are secured to riser panels at the ends of the carrier so as to afford reinforcement for the carrier and a complete central panel. In accordance with another feature of the invention, the riser panels are formed with reinforcing tabs along their upper edges which are secured to the usual handle panels in the region of maximum stress so as materially to increase the strength and sturdiness of the carrier and particularly of its handle.

For a better understanding of the invention reference may be had to the following detailed description taken Eatented June 22, 1965 2 in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a setup article carrier constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; FIG. 2 is a plan view of a blank from which the basic structure of the carrier of FIG. 1 is formed; FIG. 3 is a plan view of a blank of a partition forming insert which is secured to certain carrier elements of the blank depicted in FIG. 2 during the formation of a completed carrier; FIGS. 4-8 inclusive depict folding and gluing stages or operations whereby the blanks depicted in FIGS. 2 and 3 are glued, assembled and folded so as to produce the carrier depicted in collapsed form in FIG. 8 and in setup form in FIG. 1; FIGS. 4A and 4B show intermediate stages of the folding operation of the blank depicted in FIG. 3 whereby paartitions are formed on each side of the handle; FIG. 9 is a perspective view of another embodiment .of the invention; FIG. 10 is a plan view of a blank from which an insert is formed for inclusion in the carrier depicted in FIG. 9; FIG. 11 is a plan view of the basic blank used to construct the carrier depicted in FIG. 9; in which FIGS. 12l5 depict various stages of gluing and folding whereby the blanks depicted in FIGS. 10 and 11 are glued and manipulated to produce the finished carrier depicted in collapsed form in FIG. 15 and in setup condition in FIG. 9; and in which FIG. 16 is a plan view of an alternative insert which may be used on one side of the handle instead of the insert depicted in FIG. 10 in accordance with still another feature of the invention.

With reference to the drawings and particularly with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the numerals 1 and 2 designate side walls of the carrier while the numerals 3, 4, 5 and 6 denote end panels. End panels 3 and 4 are foldably connected with side wall 1 along fold lines 7 and 8 respectively while end panels 5 and 6 are foldably connected with side wall 2 along fold lines 9 and 10, respectively. Foldably joined to the bottom edge 11 of side wall 1 is a bottom flap generally designated by the numeral 12. Also foldably joined along the fold line 13 to the bottom edge of the side panel 2 is a bottom wall 14 having a medial fold line designated at 15. Foldably joined along the fold line 16 to the end panel 3 is a riser panel in the form of medial partitioning support element 17. Similarly, riser panels in the form of medial partitioning support elements 18, 19 and 2d are foldably joined along lines 21, 22 and 23 to the end panels 5, 6 and 4, respectively.

The handle structure of the carton depicted in FIG. 1 is similar to that disclosed and claimed in the above mentioned Patent 2,537,452 and comprises two pairs of telescopically arranged panels best shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 and designated by the numerals 24, 25, 26 and 27. Certain numerals are applied to FIG. 2 and certain other 1 numerals are shown on FIG. 3 to prevent crowding. The

panels 24427 are generally similar in their overall arrangement and therefore only one of such panels will be described in detail, it being deemed desirable to point out however that the handle panel 24 is foldably joined to the handle panel 26 along the medial fold line 28 while the handle panel 25 is foldably joined to the handle panel 27 along the coincidental fold line 29. Panel 24 is separated from panel 25 along a cut line 39 while panel 26 is separated from panel 27 along a cut line 31 which coincides with line 30. The outline of any one of the handle panels follows that for panel 26. The panel 24 may be defined by the points A, B, C, D, E and F so that the area enclosed by the lines connecting these points A-F defines the one handle 24 disposed in a single plane. Line A-B is a out line separating handle panel 24 from end panel 3. Similarly, line CD is a cut line separating partitioning strip 32 from an edge of handle panel 24 while line D-E is a out line coinciding with line 30 which separates panel 24 from panel 25. B-C is a fold line whereby the partitioning strip 32 is foldably connected with handle panel 24 while line G-H is a fold line along which the partitioning strip 32 is foldably joined with the side wall 1.

For the purpose of enabling the carrier to be readily grasped by the hand of the person carrying it, aperture 33 is provided in handle panel 24 and in addition, a flap 34 may be provided and adjoined to the handle panel 24 along fold line 35 if desired.

In similar fashion hand hold aperture 36 and flap 37 are provided in handle panel 25 and hand hold aperture 38 and flap 39 are provided in handle panel 27.

As is disclosed in the above mentioned Patent 2,537,452 additional partitioning strips 49, 41 and 42 are provided and are interrelated with the other elements as described in detail above in connection with partitioning strip 32.

The handle panels 24 and 26 are telescoped over handle panels 25 and 27 when the carton is formed as will be described in detail hereinafter.

An auxiliary panel is provided in one of the handle panels, such as 26, instead of the hand gripping fiaps designated 34, 37 and 39 in connection with panels 24, 25 and 27. Such auxiliary panel is designated in the drawings by the numeral 43 and is separated from handle panel 26 along a out line extending from the point designated I to point I and thence to points K and L. A fold line designated by the numeral 44 is provided whereby the auxiliary panel 43 may be folded downwardly.

The insert depicted in FIG. 3 comprises a cushioning panel 45 and a pair of partitioning panels 46 and 47 foldably joined to opposite edges of cushioning panel 45 along fold lines 48 and 49. Cut lines 5tl53 define a T-shaped lower portion of cushioning panel 45, wherein the projections 45a, 45b, 45c, 45d constitute anchoring tabs for the inserts on both sides of the handle, such projections being designated in FIGS. 4A and 4B.

One insert such as is shown in FIG. 3 is folded along fold line 48 so that panel 45 overlies panel 46 as shown in FIG. 4A. The underneath surface of edge portion of panel 46 designated at 54 is then glued to the strip as shown in FIG. 4. The other insert is folded along line 49 so that panel overlies panel 47. The entire insert is then rotated 180 degrees about a vertical axis and then appears as shown in FIG. 4B. The bottom surface portion of panel 47 designated at is then glued to strip 42 as shown in FIG. 4.

While glue is being applied at 54 and 55 to the two inserts, glue is also being applied to the blank of FIG. 2. The disposition of such glue application is depicted by stippling in FIG. 4 which also shows the inserts after they are affixed to strips 40 and 42. Riser panels 17 and 18 are folded over along fold lines 16 and 21 respectively and are glued to handle panels 24 and 26. Simultaneously end panels 3 and 5 are swung over the side panels 1 and 2 along the fold lines 7 and 9 respectively. During such folding, partitioning strip 32 swings over along the top center portion 1a of side panel 1 along the fold line G-H. The partitioning strip 41 folds similarly. Since A-B is a cut line and BC is a fold line, the above described folding operation causes the handle panel 24 to overlap the strip 32 partially as depicted in FIG. 5. In similar fashion the corresponding end panel 5 and handle panel 26 are simultaneously folded over, it being understood that the opening 33 coincides generally with the hand gripping opening 36 and the opening from which auxiliary panel 43 is struck overlies and generally coincides with the hand gripping aperture 38. Reinforcing tab 17a being above the hand gripping aperture 33 in accordance with a feature of this invention, strengthens the handle at one of its points of maximum stress. During the folding operation, strips 32 and 41 are glued to the ends 56 and 57 of panels 47 and 46, respectively. Also area 18a of riser 18 is glued to anchoring tab 45a of panel 45.

The next operation is depicted in FIG. 6 and is effected by simply folding the riser panels 19 and 20 along their fold lines 22 and 23, respectively. During this operation part 2611 of riser 20 is glued to part 45b of panel 45. Simultaneously reinforcing tab 19a is secured to handle panels 27 and 26, and materially strengthens the handle. Thereafter an application of glue is made to the structure as indicated by stippling in FIG. 7 and subsequently the arrangement of FIG. 7 is folded along the medial fold lines 28 and 29 to the position indicated in FIG. 8. During this operation the anchoring tab 45d of one panel 45 is glued to part 18a of riser 13 on the opposite side of riser 13 from part 45a of the other insert. Likewise anchoring tab 45c is glued to part 20a of riser 20 on the side thereof opposite from part 45b of the other insert. By this means a center keel is formed of the risers 17-20 and the panels 45 which adds greatly to the strength of the carrier while forming a medial partition separating the bottles on one side of the handle from those on the other side.

It will be understood that the lap panel 12 is secured along an edge of the bottom panel 14 to complete the carrier structure depicted in FIG. 8 which figure shows the carrier in its collapsed condition.

For the purpose of maintaining the carton in the setup condition as depicted in FIG. 1 and in accordance with well known practice, notches 60, 61, 62 and 63 are formed in riser panels 17, 18, 19 and 20 respectively as shown in FIG. 2. These notches form holding means for cooperating with the notches 64 and 65 formed in the ends of the bottom panel 14. This feature is well known and no further description thereof is deemed necessary.

The blanks as shown in FIG. 2 are arranged to be cut in nested relation from a single sheet of material such as paperboard. For example, the blank on the left is arranged so that lines 20c, 20d, and 20b coincide respectively with lines 17c, 17d, and 17b of the right hand blank. Similarly lines 19b, 19d and 191: of the left hand blank coincide respectively with the lines 18b, 18d and 18a of the right hand blank. In this manner substantial economy of material is effected and adequate cushioning between the end cells of the carrier on opposite sides of the handle is achieved. For instance and with reference to FIG. 7, it is apparent that when the blank is folded along lines 28, 29 partitioning tab 26a will fall into the space below the partitioning tab 1% and with line 20d coinciding approximately with lines 19d. In this way tabs 20a and 1912 form a single layer partition with 19c being above 20a for a portion of the adjacent end cells. Similar structure is utilized at the other end of the carrier.

This particular structure is advantageous for another reason. For example and with reference to FIG. 2, it is apparent that with the left hand blank having its lines 2041 and 19d in coincidence with the lines 17d and 18d of the right hand blank and with motion of the blanks being from right to left or from left to right, an ideal arrangement is provided whereby one feeder wheel of the forming machine may straddle the lines 20d, 17d and the other wheel may straddle the lines 19d, 18d. Thus, both wheels will clear the edges 1% and 200 simultaneously and will thus maintain correct alignment of each blank. In like fashion both wheels will clear the edges 17b and of each blank simultaneously and alignment is maintained as each blank is fed into and delivered by the machine feeder wheels.

The modification of the invention represented by FIGS. 9-16 is like the carrier depicted in FIGS. 1-8 except in the modification of FIGS. 9-16 the partition strips 32, 40, 41 and 42 are eliminated. Stated otherwise, the article receiving cells on each side of the handle in the second modification depicted in FIGS. 9-16 are formed solely by the inserts such as that depicted in FIG. 10. Thus, the insert of FIG. 10 is constructed somewhat differently from the insert depicted in FIG. 3. For example, in FIG. 10 the insort is provided with a pair of glue flaps 66 and 67 which are foldably joined to the edges 68 and 69 of the partitioning panels 46 and 47, respectively.

enema? In order to form the completed carrier depicted in FIG. 9 from the blanks depicted in FIGS. 10 and 11, the first step constitutes folding the partitioning panel 47 along the fold line 70 underneath the cushioning panel 45. Of course, such operation causes the glue flap 67 to swing underneath the other elements of the insert as depicted in FIG. 10. When the insert is so folded, it is then secured in position as depicted in FIG. 12 by simply aflixing the end designated at 71 of the cushioning panel 45 to the area generally designated at 72 of the handle panel 25. In like fashion, the same area 71 of the other insert is glued to the area 73 of handle panel 27. The glue flaps 66 and 67 of each insert are secured to the adjacent side walls, such as 1 and 2. Thereafter, the structure appears as depicted in FIG. 12.

While glue is being applied to the inserts, glue is also being applied to the blank of FIG. 11 as shown by stippling in FIG. 12 which depicts the inserts in place.

Riser panels 17 and 18 are swung over panels 24 and 26 along fold lines 16 and 21 and are thus glued to the handle panels. The end panels 3 and 5 are swung about the fold lines 7 and 9. This operation causes the area 18: of riser panel 18 to be secured to anchoring tab 45a of cushioning insert 45. Upon completion of this folding operation the blank appears as depicted in FIG. 13. As before, the riser panels 19 and are then folded over the handle panels 27 and 28 and secured thereto. This folding operation causes the area 20a of riser panel 21) to be secured to anchoring tab b of the insert secured to side wall 1. Area 19a then overlies the hand gripping holes. The carrier then appears as depicted in FIG. 14. Glue is then applied as indicated by stippled areas depicted in FIG. 14. The parts are then folded along the medial fold lines 28, 29 and the bottom panel 14 is folded over on itself along the fold line 15. The glue flap 12 is thus secured to an edge of the bottom panel 14 and the other parts are secured together as already explained. This operation also causes the anchoring tab 45d to become glued to the projecting portion 18a of riser panel 18. Simultaneously the projecting portion 20a of riser panel 20 is glued to the anchoring tab 450. Thereafter, the carrier appears in collapsed condition as depicted in FIG. 15.

Suitable notches 64 and 65 are provided to cooperate with the notches 60-63 formed respectively in the riser panels 17, 18, 19 and 20.

From the description above it will be understood that the center cell of the carrier has a double-wall partition between the bottle in the center cell on one side of the handle and the bottle in the cell on the other side of the handle due to the fact that two cushioning panels 45 are in face contacting relation to each other. It may not be necessary to provide a double wall thickness at this point. If such be the case, the structure depicted at FIG. 16 may be utilized on one side of the handle while the arrangement depicted in FIG. 10 may be used on the other side of the handle. For example, in FIG. 16 anchoring structure generally designated by the numeral may be provided with a struck out partitioning panel 76 which is foldably joined along line 77 to anchoring structure 75. Partitioning panel 76 is also provided with a glue flap 78 which is foldably joined to the partition 76 along fold line 79. In like fashion, a partitioning panel 80 is provided with a glue flap 81 which is foldably joined to panel 80 along fold line 82. Panel 80 is generally joined to the anchoring structure '75 along fold line 83.

With reference to FIG. 12 the structure depicted in FIG. 10 may be secured to one side of the carton such as to the side wall 1 as already explained. Thereafter, the structure depicted in FIG. 16 may be secured to the other side of the carton. T 0 this end the upper edge portion 84 of the anchoring structure 75 may be secured to the lower edge 73 of the handle panel 27. Simultaneously the glue flaps 78 and 81 are affixed to the side wall 2.

Subsequent folding operations are identical to those described above in connection with FIGS. 5-8 inclusive and as already described in connection with FIGS. 12-15 inclusive.

From the above description, it is apparent that, by the invention, an improved partitioning structure has been provided which by virtue of its T-shaped cushioning panel adjoining the riser panels at each end of the carrier, a sturdy center keel is provided which greatly increases the strength and durability of the carrier. In like fashion,

the reinforcing tabs which are formed on the inner edges of some of the riser panels greatly add to the strength and sturdiness of the handle at its points of maximum stress. An examination of the basic blank as depicted for example in FIG. 2 and in FIG. 11 shows that the reinforcing tabs 17a and 19a are provided without any additional material because the structure of the blank for example as shown in FIGS. 2 and 11 will nest with an adjacent blank. For example and with reference to FIG. 2, the tab 17a of the blank will nest into an adjacent blank on the left side thereof by lying alongside and immediately above the corresponding reinforcing tab 19a on the blank to the left. Such tab 17a also will lie immediately adjacent to and underneath the riser panel 23 of the blank to the left. Likewise, the tab 19a of the blank on the left will lie immediately below the tab 17a of the blank on the right.

While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, the invention is not limited thereto and it is intended in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. An article carrier comprising a bottom wall, opposed side walls joined to said bottom wall along opposite side edges thereof, end walls joined at the ends of said side walls and extending transversely inward therefrom, riser panels joined at the inwardly extending edges of said end wall panels and extending medially inward of the carrier, said riser panels having respectively joined thereto in alignment with the joined edges of said end walls at one end of the carrier a pair of outer handle panels and at the other end of the carrier a pair of inner handle panels, said pair of inner handle panels being in face contacting relation and said pair of outer handle panels being disposed about said inner handle panels to form a composite handle for the carrier, coincidental hand gripping apertures formed in said handle panels, a cushioning panel disposed on one side of the carrier handle and positioned approximately midway between the end panels, said cushioning panel being secured at its upper portion to the handle, an anchoring tab formed along each side edge of said cushioning panel adjacent the bottom thereof, and means fastening said anchoring tabs to said riser panels.

2. A carrier according to claim 1 in which a pair of partition strips are interconnected to a side Wall in spaced relation and to the handle to form a plurality of article receiving cells on one side of the handle and in which a partitioning panel is foldably joined to each side edge of said cushioning panel and secured to one of said strips.

3. A carrier according to claim 1 in which a partitioning panel is foldably joined to each side edge of said cushioning panel and secured to the adjcent side wall to form a plurality of article receiving cells on one side of the handle.

4. A carrier according to claim 3 in which a pair of partitioning panels are secured in spaced relation to the other side of the handle and to the other side wall to form a plurality of article receiving cells on said other side of the carrier.

5. A carrier according to claim 4 wherein said pair of partitioning panels are foldably joined along the edges thereof adjacent the handle to common fastening structure secured to the handle and to said cushioning panel.

6. An article carrier comprising a bottom Wall, opposed side walls joined to said bottom wall along opposite side edges thereof, end walls joined at the ends of said side walls and extending transversely inward therefrom, riser panels joined at the inwardly extending edges of said end wall panels and extending medially inward of the carrier, said riser panels having respectively joined thereto in alignment with the joined edges of said end walls at one end of the carrier a pair of outer handle panels and at the other end of the carrier a pair of inner handle panels, said pair of inner handle panels being in face contaeting relation and said pair of outer handle panels being disposed about said inner handle panels to form a composite handle for the carrier, coincidental hand gripping apertures formed in said handle panels, a reinforcing tab formed integrally with one of said riser panels at each end of the carrier along the inwardly extending edge thereof, each of said reinforcing tabs extending above said hand gripping apertures and being secured to at least one of said inner panels, a cushioning panel disposed on at least one side of the carrier handle and positioned approximately midway between the end panels, said cushioning panel being secured at its upper portion to the handle, and partitioning panels foldably joined to the side edges of said cushioning panel and extending transversely of the carrier to define a plurality of article receiving cells on said one side of the handle.

7. An article carrier comprising a bottom wall, opposed side walls joined to said bottom wall along opposite side edges thereof, end walls joined at the ends of said side walls and extending transversely inward therefrom, riser panels joined at the inwardly extending edges of said end wall panels and extending medially inward of the carrier, said riser panels having respectively joined thereto in alignment with the joined edges of said end walls at one end of the carrier a pair of outer handle panels and at the other end of the carrier a pair of inner handle panels, said pair of inner handle panels being in face contacting relation and said pair of outer handle panels being disposed about said inner handle panels to form a composite handle for the carrier, coincidental hand gripping apertures formed in said handle panels, and a reinforcing tab formed integrally with one of said riser panels at each end of the carrier along the inwardly extending edge thereof, each of said reinforcing tabs extending above said hand gripping apertures and being secured to one of said inner panels.

8. A carrier according to claim 7 in which the reinforcing tabs are secured to different ones of said inner handle panels and in which such tabs are integral with riser panels u on opposite sides of the handle.

9. A carrier according to claim 1 wherein a reinforcing tab is formed along the inner edge of at least one of the riser panels at each end of the carrier, each reinforcing tab being disposed above the hand gripping apertures and being secured to the adjacent one of said inner handle panels to form a five-ply handle structure with said outer and inner handle panels in the region of the handle adjacent to and above the ends of said apertures.

10. An article carrier comprising a bottom wall, opposed side walls joined to said bottom wall along opposite side edges thereof, end walls joined at the ends of said carrier, said riser panels having respectively joined thereto in alignment with the joined edges of said end walls at one end of the carrier a pair of outer handle panels and at the other end of the carrier 21 pair of inner handle panels, said pair of inner handle panels being in face contacting relation and said pair of outer handle panels being disposed about said inner handle panels to form a composite handle for the carrier, coincidental hand gripping apertures formed in said handle panels, a partitioning tab formed integrally with each of said riser panels along the inwardly extending edge thereof, the partitioning tab on one riser panel at each end of the carrier being disposed above the partitioning tab on the other riser panel at each end of the carrier so as to provide a single thickness medial partition at each end of the carrier, and a cushioning panel secured at its upper portion to the handle and having anchoring tabs along its side edges secured to at least one of the riser panels at each end of the carrier.

11. An article carrier comprising a bottom wall, opposed side walls joined to said bottom wall along opposite side edges thereof, end walls joined at the ends of said side walls and extending transversely inward therefrom, riser panels joined at the inwardly extending edges of said end wall panels and extending medially inward of the carrier, said riser panels having respectively joined thereto in alignment with the joined edges of said end walls at one end of the carrier a pair of outer handle panels and at the other end of the carrier a pair of inner handle panels, said pair of inner handle panels being in face contacting relation and said pair of outer handle panels being disposed about said inner handle panels to form a composite handle for the carrier, coincidental hand gripping apertures formed in said handle panels, and a partitionin g tab formed integrally with each of said riser panels along the inwardly extending edge thereof, the partitioning tab on one riser panel at each end of the carrier being disposed above the partitioning tab on the other riser panel at each end of the carrier so as to provide a single thickness medial partition at each end of the carrier.

12. An article carrier comprising a bottom wall, opposed side walls joined to said bottom wall along opposite side edges thereof, end walls joined at the ends of said side walls and extending transversely inward therefrom, riser panels joined at the inwardly extending edges of said end wall panels and extending medially inward of the carrier, a multiple-ply handle secured at its ends to the riser panels at the ends of the carrier, and a partitioning tab formed integrally with each of said riser panels along the inwardly extending edge thereof, the partitioning tab on one riser panel at each end of the carrier being disposed above the partitioning tab on the other riser panel at the corresponding end of the carrier so as to provide a single thickness medial partition at each end of the carrier.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,630,264 3/53 Holy 220ll3 3,083,865 4/63 Forrer 2201l3 FOREIGN PATENTS 915,992 1/63 Great Britain.

FRANKLIN T. GARRETT, Primary Examiner. 

1. AN ARTICLE CARRIER COMPRISING A BOTTOM WALL, OPPOSED SIDE WALLS JOINED TO SAID BOTTOM WALL ALONG OPPOSITE SIDE EDGES THEREOF, END WALLS JOINED AT THE ENDS OF SAID SIDE WALLS AND EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY INWARD THEREFROM, RISER PANELS JOINED AT THE INWARDLY EXTENDING EDGES OF THE CARRIER, WALL PANELS AND EXTENDING MEDIALLY EDGES OF SAID END SAID RISER PANELS HAVING RESPECTIVELY JOINED THERETO IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE JOINED EDGES OF SAID END WALLS AT ONE END OF THE CARRIER A PAIR OF OUTER HANDLE PANELS AND AT THE OTHER END OF THE CARRIER A PAIR OF INNER HANDLE PANELS, SAID PAIR OF INNER HANDLE PANELS BEING IN FACE CONTACTING RELATION AND SAID PAIR OF OUTER HANDLE PANELS BEING DISPOSED ABOUT SAID INNER HANDLE PANELS TO FORM A COMPOSITE HANDLE FOR THE CARRIER, COINCIDENTAL HAND GRIPPING APERTURES FORMED IN SAID HANDLE PANELS, A CUSHIONING PANEL DISPOSED ON ONE SIDE OF THE CARRIER HANDLE AND POSITIONED APPROXIMATELY MIDWAY BETWEEN THE END PANELS, SAID CUSHIONING PANEL BEING SECURED AT ITS UPPER PORTION OF THE HANDLE, AN ANCHORING TAB FORMED ALONG EACH SIDE EDGE OF SAID CUSHIONING PANEL ADJACENT THE BOTTOM THEREOF, AND MEANS FASTENING SAID ANCHORING TABS TO SAID RISER PANELS. 